Well, I think it's safe to say there will be snow in Idaho in December. Wow! And I really can't wait to see Griffin playing in it. That sounds really cute. He looks good in a scarf. To be honest, I am super excited to meet this animal, and I think we'll be great friends. You may not have gotten that impression from me saying I think he's taken my place in y'alls hearts and such, but I'm fairly certain I will like him and want to take him with me to college. Except that's not possible. Speaking of dogs, remember how I told you that dog got sick on my skirt a few weeks ago? Well, apparently that dog was not just having an upset stomach. It died. I don't think it was an allergic reaction to me or anything weird like that, but how sad.
As far as the weather goes, here it is much cooler than the summer, with temperatures holding around 70 or 75 during the day and probably hitting the 50s at night. It's not cold by any means, but it usually requires a cardigan, at least when it's overcast and you might get downpoured on any minute. I must say, I'm a little nervous about not having the cold tolerance of a native Idahoan anymore....
Yes, my final zone conference was great. It was much more conversational and interactive than most. President Hansen had a time slot where we just asked questions and he answered them. Really informative and nice. We had an opportunity to practice our teaching skills with some other missionaries and pretend to have the same concerns as our investigators. We were paired with some of the zone leaders for one of the Spanish zones, one of whom was one of my friends from Tomball. Good to see everyone again, I guess most of them for the last time, at least for a while. Weird. They even had the new or departing missionaries stand up and bear our testimonies at the end. Kind of a bittersweet, but mostly sweet thing, to have a few moments to reflect and witness how much the Savior has changed me and brought me through this. My gratitude runneth over. I think it's great that Dad has become a legend in the Idaho Pocatello mission. Do you know what it takes to become a legend? Well, that is it, but, just for the record, I already knew you were legendary, Dad.
Other than that, it's pretty much been missionary life as usual. I can't really think that life on Sycamore Circle is any more or less exciting than life in the Texas Houston mission, just different in its own ways. We did a lot of tracting and had a few long-anticipated lessons with some investigators while others continue to drop off the map despite our efforts to help them find the iron rod. We helped out with a youth fireside last night in one of the wards about how to answer difficult questions about the gospel they are sometimes asked by friends at school. Someone we met while tracting told us, "If you really cared what Jesus Christ thought, you'd reject the Book of Mormon," but we just kept tracting. I know it's nothing to compare to the suffering of the Atonement, or even the trials Joseph Smith faced as Prophet of the Restoration, but sometimes it makes me think of those lines from Joseph Smith history: Why persecute me for telling the truth? Usually when people throw lines like that at us, we think of these two lines the evil guards say to Joseph and company in Liberty Jail in the Joseph Smith movie: "This faith of yours is such a waste!" and "Looks like God's forgotten you!" We realize that whatever those people are saying to us is bascially the November in Houston, Texas equivalent of one of those phrases. It makes it a lot easier to heed them not when you see them not as isolated incidents directed to personally attack us but as mockeries and taunts that have always followed the truth. Sister Schlauder even has a chant, taken directly from a line in the Doctrine and Covenants, that she made up at EFY once: Fools mock, but they shall mourn. It also makes me think of Nephi's final testimony at the close of 2 Nephi. "All ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, (or share these words with you) notwithstanding my weakness. And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day." I hope that that comes across in a hopeful and loving manner, like both Nephi and I intended it to. I love these peole, and my heart aches to know how much joy they are rejecting while they do not even understand what they are doing. I rejoice that God is a God of mercy because I know He will continue to send them His tender mercies as long as it takes. I'm glad He allowed me to be one of them for so many people.
Okay, I better break away from that train of thought before I get too sentimental. On the docket for the next ten days are two trips to the temple, a Thanksgiving holiday, moving apartments, packing up all my stuff, final shopping for souvenirs for the family, many pictures to take with beloved companions and friends, and whatever else the Lord has in store that He hasn't let me know about yet. It should be a fairly typical week, minus the whole it being my last full week in Texas thing. Strange. I still kind of think it's a lie, and next week at this time someone will call and tell me I'll be going to College Station or Montgomery or Katy or somewhere else for the next six weeks. But I think it will probably start to settle in soon enough, so until then I'll just enjoy it.
Much love,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen
PS Cassidy, you didn't say anything about the David Archuleta Christmas album? Do you have one? Would you like to have mine when I get home? Details, sister, details!
PPS The box I sent home really isn't that exciting for y'all. Just a dictionary and a book about the Houston temple and a few other odds and ends, plus a little surprise I found for everyone. But I still want you to wait a few more days to open it..until I get home that is.
PPPS Happy snow!
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